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The Hunter

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
The Hunter (1980)
Official Trailer
Play trailer3:14
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyActionBiographyComedyCrimeDramaThriller

Bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson is receiving death threats from a criminal he helped put away. This while his girlfriend is about to give birth, an event he isn't looking forward to.Bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson is receiving death threats from a criminal he helped put away. This while his girlfriend is about to give birth, an event he isn't looking forward to.Bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson is receiving death threats from a criminal he helped put away. This while his girlfriend is about to give birth, an event he isn't looking forward to.

  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writers
    • Ted Leighton
    • Peter Hyams
    • Christopher Keane
  • Stars
    • Steve McQueen
    • Eli Wallach
    • Kathryn Harrold
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    7.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • Ted Leighton
      • Peter Hyams
      • Christopher Keane
    • Stars
      • Steve McQueen
      • Eli Wallach
      • Kathryn Harrold
    • 66User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 31Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    The Hunter
    Trailer 3:14
    The Hunter

    Photos112

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    Top cast68

    Edit
    Steve McQueen
    Steve McQueen
    • Papa Thorson
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • Ritchie Blumenthal
    Kathryn Harrold
    Kathryn Harrold
    • Dotty
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Tommy Price
    Ben Johnson
    Ben Johnson
    • Sheriff Strong
    Richard Venture
    Richard Venture
    • Spota
    Tracey Walter
    Tracey Walter
    • Rocco Mason
    Thomas Rosales Jr.
    Thomas Rosales Jr.
    • Bernardo
    • (as Tom Rosales)
    Teddy Wilson
    Teddy Wilson
    • Winston Blue
    • (as Theodore Wilson)
    Ray Bickel
    • Luke Branch
    Bobby Bass
    Bobby Bass
    • Matthew Branch
    Karl Schueneman
    • Billie Joe
    Margaret Mary O'Hara
    • Child on Subway
    • (as Margaret O'Hara)
    James Spinks
    James Spinks
    • Angry Car Owner
    Frank Delfino
    Frank Delfino
    • Poker Player
    Zora Margolis
    • La Maze Leader
    Poppy Lagos
    • Mrs. Bernardo
    Dea St. Lamont
    • Woman Bartender
    • (as Dea St. La Mount)
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • Ted Leighton
      • Peter Hyams
      • Christopher Keane
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews66

    6.27.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8Aaron1375

    Simple but good.

    This, of course, was McQueen's last role. It is nothing grand, and for the most part there really is no plot, but it is still a rather good movie. This movie revolves around McQueen's character who is a bounty hunter. This movie shows him go after various people and also shows his home life...which is a bit unique too. He goes after super big rednecks, small time crooks, crazy guys who blow things up, and one rather dangerous individual. Someone who he captured in the past also stalks him. All in all it isn't the greatest movie, but it mixes action and humor well. Even though McQueen was feeling the effects of his illness during the shooting of this one, he still does a great job.
    Coxer99

    The Hunter

    There are moments of greatness from McQueen in this, his final picture. That persona of cool that he will always be remembered for is put to the test one more time. The story isn't unique or earth shattering, but die hard fans of the legendary star will not be disappointed.
    G-Man-25

    McQueen's Last Stand

    McQueen's last film before his tragic and untimely death from cancer was this minor but enjoyable action comedy based on the exploits of real life bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson. The small scale, episodic structure and a few plot contrivances sometimes make it feel like a glorified made-for-TV movie (TV veteran Buzz Kulik directed), but Steve is terrific in the role and he's aided by a large and colorful supporting cast. Plenty of action, along with nice touches of warmth and humor make this more than passable entertainment, especially for fans of McQueen. ** 1/2 stars
    7Fella_shibby

    Give it a try since it is the last from one of the best. There will never be another like him.

    I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs. Revisited it recently. As a die hard fan of McQueen, i enjoyed this film which many dubbed as the last n weakest of McQueen's films. The film is about a modern-day bounty hunter who captures criminals who have skipped on their bail to bring them back for a reward. His job doesn't allow him to spend time with his pregnant girlfriend n at the same time a psychopath is stalking them. The film has a good rooftop chase, a foot chase, a train sequence n a funny chase in a corn field with ample amount of dynamites. In this film McQueen came up with the idea of going against his famous car n bike racing abilities by portraying his character as a terrible driver. The film does have a very weak villain n the screenplay is a mishmash.
    chancer127

    Steve McQueen

    No nasty words about this film, i was in the cinema on it's release and at the end of the film the manager came out to inform everyone {it was a packed house} that Steve McQueen sadly passed away, i still remember that moment 24 years on....the film my not be his greatest but i loved it......... I have since seen it a number of times and will continue to sit through whenever it's shown on TV. Steve McQueen, it's good to be in the same room as him, even if it is via the wonders of science. So enjoy the moment when you do see this film, or enjoy them again, if you have seen it, i would loved to have been on set with the great guy himself.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steve McQueen was diagnosed with cancer the month after filming had ended. He first began to suspect his condition in the autumn of 1979, while he was shooting scenes for this film on location in Chicago.
    • Goofs
      About 44 minutes in, Ralph Thorson takes delivery of a rental car. It's a 1980 Pontiac Trans Am; a true "muscle car" in its day. It's apparent by the way Ralph is driving that it has a stick shift manual transmission, not an automatic transmission. By US law, all rental cars must have automatic transmissions (except for exotic cars such as Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys, Porsches and the like).
    • Quotes

      Ralph 'Papa' Thorson: I'm getting too old for this shit.

    • Alternate versions
      The US release features a score by French composer Michel Legrand, one sequence is scored by 'Charles Bernstein'. The European dubbed versions (in French, Spanish, Italian, and German) feature only the music of 'Charles Bernstein'. Omitted in these versions are also the passages of source music from McQueen's/Papa's radio (Opera). The region 1 DVD made by Paramount for the US market features only the American version. The region 2 DVD also made by Paramount, this time for the European market, features both scores: Legrand's score on the English language track, Bernstein's score on the tracks in Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
    • Connections
      Featured in Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Sempre Libera
      from opera "La Traviata"

      Composed by Giuseppe Verdi (as Verdi)

      Performed by Pamela Hicks

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    FAQ

    • How long is The Hunter?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jeder Kopf hat seinen Preis
    • Filming locations
      • Kankakee, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Rastar Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,274,150
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,274,150
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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